Cognitive impairment is common among non-demented individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and is a significant source of disability and reduced quality of life. Unfortunately, there are no successful interventions to address these impairments. Prospective memory impairment is a particularly functionally- and clinically-relevant problem in PD. The investigator's project will determine if a targeted intervention strategy improves PD participants' prospective memory. The investigator's goal is to improve PD patients' everyday prospective memory so they can successfully perform desired activities and roles.

Further study details as provided by Washington University School of Medicine:

Enrollment:

74

Study Start Date:

June 2011

Study Completion Date:

May 2014

Primary Completion Date:

May 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Intervention Details:

Behavioral: Prospective Memory Strategy

Prospective memory is central to performance in everyday life as it serves to bind together goal-directed actions and enables people to carry out their plans and wishes meaningfully and appropriately. Everyday prospective memory tasks include remembering to run errands, keep appointments, and turn off the stove after using it.

Detailed Description:

Cognitive impairment is common among non-demented individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and is a significant source of disability and reduced quality of life. Unfortunately, there are no successful interventions to address these impairments. Prospective memory impairment is a particularly functionally- and clinically-relevant problem in PD. The investigator's project will determine if a targeted intervention strategy improves PD participants' prospective memory. The investigator will use a randomized controlled design and a laboratory-based assessment of prospective memory to test the effect of the strategy in a controlled environment. The investigator will also see if PD participants, with support from an occupational therapist (OT), can generalize the strategy to their complex, real-world environments and tasks. Our goal is to improve PD patients' everyday prospective memory so they can successfully perform desired activities and roles.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

50 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants will be males and females over age 50 who meet criteria for idiopathic typical PD, are Hoehn & Yahr39 stage I-III (mild-moderate disease) and are treated with levodopa/carbidopa.

Exclusion Criteria:

Possible dementia,

treatment with certain medications that interfere with cognition (e.g., anticholinergics),

history of psychotic disorder or significant current psychiatric disorder, or any condition that would interfere with testing (e.g., vision problems).

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01469741

Locations

United States, Missouri

Washington University School of Medicine

St. Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110

Sponsors and Collaborators

Washington University School of Medicine

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Erin Foster, OTD, OTR/L

Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Occupational Therapy

More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party:

Erin Foster, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, Neurology and Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine